Embassy in Tashkent or the American Chamber of Commerce in Uzbekistan (www.amcham.uz) for general information about potential partners, agents or distributors. Detailed information is available from MFERIT's accreditation department or its website: www.mfer.uz/eng. SK Media Advertising Agency works with company names (www.skmedia.uz; [email protected]).
UzExpoCenter - the largest exhibition center in Tashkent (www.uzexpocentre.uz) - hosts most of these events. ITE Uzbekistan (www.ite-uzbekistan.uz) is the dominant exhibition organizer in the country, although IEG-Uzbekistan (www.ieguzexpo.com), ZAR-Expo (www.zarexpo.com) and TNT Productions, Inc. www. tntexpo.uz) offer similar services. For more information about registering for US copyright protection, contact the US Copyright Office at or visit http://www.copyright.gov/.
For information on obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights and market-specific IP tools, visit: www.stopfakes.gov/businesss-tools/country-ipr-toolkits.
Leading Sectors for U.S. Export and Investment Commercial
For special opportunities, companies should review the offer over the Internet or contact companies already involved in the Uzbek oil and gas sector. The government plans to increase the value of textile exports to more than $1.1 billion in the near future by increasing local processing. Anticipating that the lack of machinery would adversely affect agricultural production, the government began importing US-made tractors and combines in the early years of its independence.
The irrigation sector is the subject of great attention from the Government of Uzbekistan, given the limits of domestic water resources, population growth and the importance of agriculture in the country. The government hopes to increase agricultural productivity through the adoption of new technologies and develop processing and packaging capabilities to add value to domestic and export products. The government plans to develop the country's textile sector and thereby process more of its raw cotton into intermediate or consumer goods for export.
In order to improve the country's food security, the government has emphasized wheat production in recent years.
Trade Regulations, Customs and Standards
The Uzbek government restricts imports by imposing high tariffs and other import duties to encourage domestic production. Despite the fact that there is a law legalizing duty-free imports for foreign investors, it is mandatory to have a legally binding agreement with the Government of Uzbekistan that waives customs duties and other duties when importing goods for investment purposes. Certificate of registration of the contract in MFERIT and/or contract with a stamp indicating the registration in an authorized bank.
Certificate of the availability of funds in either foreign or domestic currency that would not have any obligations or a guarantee from an authorized bank, according to the established form, which confirms the ability of an importer to pay for a contract. Transit of these products can, however, be carried out if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Economic Relations, Investments and Trade gives permission for the action with the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers. The Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan issued a resolution identifying certain consumer goods that must be marked with special control identification plates upon importation.
In addition to the items prohibited from transit, the government of Uzbekistan prohibits the importation of literature, films or other media aimed at undermining the state and social structure; disrupts Uzbekistan's territorial integrity, political independence or state sovereignty; propagate war, terrorism or violence; promote ethnic exclusivity; or incite religious hatred or racism. Customs Regulations and Contact Information Return to Top Customs clearance is a complicated process in Uzbekistan and even the importation of capital equipment is subject to significant processing delays. In the absence of a system of pre-arrival clearance and systematic risk analysis, the customs clearance process in Uzbekistan requires physical inspection of everyone.
The customs clearance process usually takes place in the area where the customs authority is located. The Customs Code of Uzbekistan stipulates that officials complete customs formalities within ten days of receiving the customs declaration and other necessary documents. According to the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement), member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are obliged to report to the WTO all proposed technical regulations that may affect trade with other member countries.
Conformity Assessment Back to top The Center for Testing and Certification, together with territorial subdivisions and seventy-three accredited bodies, oversees testing and certification. In 2006, Uzbekistan began the accession process to the Eurasian Economic Community (EURASEC), but later, in November 2008, suspended its membership in the organization.
Investment Climate
Openness to, and restrictions upon, foreign investment Attitude toward FDI
Local law contains a number of disclaimers (deemed not applicable to the state), which allow state interference and allow ambiguity of law within the legal system. Creditors can only participate in the liquidation or reorganization of the debtor in the form of a creditors' committee. The Law on Guarantees to Foreign Investors and Protection of their Rights allows the resolution of investment disputes in accordance with the rules and procedures of the international treaties of which Uzbekistan is a signatory.
Uzbekistan is a member of the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and a signatory to the 1958 United Nations Convention on. Performance Requirements and Incentives Back to Top Uzbekistan is not a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has several practices that do not comply with WTO Trade Related Investment Measures (TRIMS) requirements. The government will only grant tax holidays if the company reinvests at least 50 percent of the tax savings and the investor does not require a government guarantee.
The exemptions only apply during the first two years after registration of the business. The law also requires that either the CEO or one member of the Board of Directors must be citizens of Uzbekistan. Companies are particularly concerned about the lack of consistent and fair application of the Foreign Investment Act, which sets out specific protections for foreign investors.
State-owned enterprises (SOEs) dominate those sectors of the economy that the government recognizes as national strategic interests. The main branch of government charged with fighting corruption is the Office of the Attorney General. Since the enactment of the FCPA, the United States has helped expand the international anti-corruption framework.
General information on anti-corruption initiatives such as the OECD Convention and the FCPA, including translations of the statute into several languages, is. Depreciation of the local currency could accelerate in the future if the government decides to narrow the spread between the official exchange rate, which is administratively determined, and the black market rate. Labor force Back to top Uzbekistan has the largest labor force in the region - approximately seventeen million or 57 percent of the total population.
Companies on the territory of the FIEZ are promised a special customs, currency and tax regime, a simplified one.
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Trade and Project Financing
For example, insurance companies must collect their premiums in sum and they are not allowed to pay reinsurance premiums in hard currency on the world market. Banks and local correspondent banks Back to top The National Bank of Uzbekistan (NBU) and Asaka Bank are the main financial gateways between Uzbekistan and the rest of the world; they are the main channels for the inflow, distribution and service of foreign finance and investment. These banks have correspondent relationships with the Bank of New York, Bank of America, American Express Bank, JP Morgan Chase, RBS Chicago and other US banks.
Uzbekistan is a member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (although the country has minimized its involvement in the organization), the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Uzbekistan has also established its own development bank, the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan, which finances or co-finances major projects in the country.
Business Travel
Visa requirements Back to top A valid passport and visa are required to enter Uzbekistan. Although invitations from a sponsoring organization or individual are not officially required for US citizens applying for short-term visas, it is the practice of the Government of Uzbekistan to require letters of invitation. It is important to note that Uzbekistan visas indicate not only the validity of the visa, but also the period when a person is allowed to stay in Uzbekistan on a particular trip.
Uzbekistan has suspended the 72-hour transit rule that allowed travelers with visas from other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States to transit Uzbekistan without an Uzbekistan visa. Additional visa information is available from the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 1746 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. The public telephone networks in Uzbekistan have approximately 2 million subscribers on fixed services and more than 19 million on mobile phone services.
In 2013, the number of Internet service operators and providers in Uzbekistan was more than 930, and the number of users reached 8.1 million, most of which are located in Tashkent and Ferghana Valley regions. Transport Back to top Uzbekistan Airways (HY) National Air Company is Uzbekistan's flagship. The national railway company of Uzbekistan, Uzbekiston Temir Yollari (UTY), is the monopoly provider of passenger train services.
UTY operates over 4,300 km of railways connecting most parts of the country with Tashkent and other CIS destinations. Food and waterborne diseases such as Salmonella, Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid and Meningitis are known in Uzbekistan. Temporary entry of materials and personal effects Back to top Travelers to Uzbekistan must declare materials and personal effects of high value, including large amounts of cash.
Uzbekistan's customs authorities can enforce strict rules regarding the temporary import or export of items such as weapons and ammunition, space technology, encryption equipment, X-ray and isotope equipment, nuclear materials, poisons, narcotics, precious and semi-precious metals, invalid securities, and works of art and antiquities of historical value. Travelers should contact the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, DC or the Consulate of Uzbekistan in New York for specific information on customs requirements for materials and personal effects.
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